Sunday, December 17, 2023
Paths of Glory
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kirk Douglas Colonel Dax Ralph Meeker Cpl Philippe Paris Adolphe Menjou Maj Gen Georges Broulard George Macready Brig Gen Paul Mireau Wayne Morris Lieutenant Roget Richard Anderson Mjr Saint-Auban Joe Turkel Pvt Pierre Arnaud Christiane Kubrick German singer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1957
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: Criterion7, kirk-douglas, stanley-kubrick, war3
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Barry Lyndon
- Commentary: Under Construction.
In 2009 Roger Ebert reviewed this movie a second time (his first review is attached to the title of this post above) as part of his Great Movies class. Here is that review.
It was also reviewed by Jim Emerson at Roger Ebert's site in 2004, discussed from a cinematographic perspective by Mr. Emerson in 2006 and discussed by Peter Sobczynski in 2017 when it was added to The Criterion Collection. Me? I just love these sweeping period dramas, especially when they're done in an epic style, which this is. In addition, Stanley Kubrick made some surprising acting choices for this film, then coaxed the hell out of his performers.
Hapless lives are lived in every time and place. For that reason, this film is both sobering and bracing to watch, no mean feat in itself.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Michael Hordern Narrator Ryan O'Neal Redmond Barry Lyndon Marisa Berenson Lady Lyndon Patrick Magee Chevalier du Balibari Hardy Krüger Cpt. Potzdorf Gay Hamilton Nora Brady Marie Kean Belle, Barry's mother Godfrey Quigley Cpt. Grogan
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: §3, Criterion3, period6, stanley-kubrick
Monday, January 28, 2019
Spartacus
- Commentary: Yet another film I was surprised to discover I didn't own. This was a Mom favorite and it was through me watching her savoring the movie (especially the love story and the plight of Varinia) that I came to appreciate it to the point that, a good year or so ago, after checking the movie out of the library several times, decided to purchase it.
Yes, it's clearly dated in its portrayal. It rather reminds me of my reaction to The Story of Ruth, when I blurted, in response to watching the priestesses preparing for a sacrifice to Chemosh, "Isn't it interesting that the priestesses gowns look exactly like 1960's evening gowns. Do you think the state of dressmaking, at that time, included all those stays and breast shapers?" My mother ignored me.
At any rate, I continue to find this movie involving. The write-up of the movie on the back of the case in which the movie came characterizes it as a portrayal of a "triumphant" slave revolt. Maybe idealogically and politically it was "triumphant" but, certainly, the fate of the slaves who participated in the revolt was, well, not particularly triumphant. Looking back at the revolt from 2100 years, noticing the current failings of imperialism, the nascent revolt of everyone but the plutocrats, the years-long dismissal of Christianity, let alone religion, and the success of various social democracies versus the burgeoning torpor of a variety of neo- and post-imperial regimes, well, however inspirational it might have been in 1960, it is mildly depressing, now.
Update 9/29/19: Is this a "gang-movie"? Yeah, it is. More of a "good-gang" movie, but a gang-movie, nonetheless. Still fun to watch.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kirk Douglas Spartacus Laurence Olivier Crassus Jean Simmons Varinia Charles Laughton Gracchus Peter Ustinov Batiatus Tony Curtis Antoninus John Gavin Julius Caesar John Dall Marcus Glabrus Nina Foch Helena Glabrus John Ireland Crixus Joanna Barnes Claudia Marius Charles McGraw Marcellus
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for the movie.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: action1, adventure1, drama4, fantasy1, gang-movie, historical2, jean-simmons, kirk-douglas, mom-favorite1, period2, political1, spectacle1, stanley-kubrick, tragedy1
Full Metal Jacket
- Commentary: As I mention in my write-up for Platoon, this movie, here, is my favorite Vietnam movie. I finally purchased it a while ago. I've watched it a few times since. It is always a thrill. I am ever aware that the movie was, in its time, still is, in fact, controversial. It is not an actor's movie, that is true. Neither was the Vietnam War an actor's war (in the sense that, for instance, WWII became an actor's war). It was a brutal, bloody mess of a capitalist imperial "adventure". It deserved to be lost, as did all the connected wars in Southeast Asia that the U.S. perpetuated. This movie makes that fact abundantly clear.
Although the war, itself, was carnage on a grand scale, the movie is not. As a director's movie, it is a prime example of the interpreting art of film directing. As such, it gets the misdirection/misadventure of the actual war and the global (let alone U.S.) reaction to it right. I will never tire of wanting to watch this movie. It's probably a generational thing. So be it.
Update 9/29/19: I've added this film to a category that I feel I need to defend: the "gang-movie" category. Although the group of men portrayed in this movie are a military unit, they are, clearly, also a gang, as well as part of a larger gang, the overwhelming military gang of professional warriors. It's impossible for me to consider them different than a street gang. Watch the movie. You'll see what I mean.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matthew Modine Pvt./Sgt. J. T. Davis Vincent D'Onofrio Pvt. Leonard/Gomer Pyle Lee Ermey Gunnery Sgt. Hartman Adam Baldwin Animal Mother Arliss Howard Pvt./Sgt. Evans Kevyn Major Howard Rafterman Dorian Harewood Eightball Tim Colceri Doorgunner Ngoc Le VC Sniper Ed O'Ross Lt. Walter J. Schinoski John Terry Lt. Lockhart Bruce Boa POG Colonel
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, gang-movie, haunting1, historical2, horror1, matthew-modine, military, period2, spectacle1, stanley-kubrick, vincent-d'onofrio, violence2, war1
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Dr. Strangelove
- Who's watched: G, I think
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: My confession is this: I think I've probably seen this entire movie, but I've never seen the entire movie in one sitting. I have memories of seeing parts of it while watching a football game. Weird, I know.
I got it because this, also, was at a very low sale price, not Costco, and I have, for some time, very much wanted to see the movie of a piece.
I don't think my mother has ever seen the movie, in whole or part, and I don't think it would command her attention. I think she'd consider it boring.
Aside from the review linked to the title of this post, which is excellent, I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that this movie has also been reviewed more than a few times by Roger Ebert's site. This paragraph will contain all those writings I consider pertinent: initial review (remember, Ebert was 12 when the movie was first released); Great Movies review; a 2018 re-review of the film and it's relevance today and to ex-President Trump.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Peter Sellers Cpt. Lionel Mandrake Peter Sellers U. S. Pres. Merkin Muffley Peter Sellers Dr. Strangelove George C. Scott Gen. Buck Turgidson Sterling Hayden Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper Keenan Wynn Col. Bat Guano Jack Creley Mr. Staines Slim Pickens Mjr. T. J. "King" Kong Peter Bull Alexei de Sadeski James Earl Jones Lt. Lothar Zogg Tracy Reed Miss Scott Shane Rimmer Cpt. Ace Owens
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1964
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Labels: apocalyptic, nuclear, period4, political3, satire2, stanley-kubrick, war2
